Everybody wants to look and feel their best. But it shouldn't have to be at the expense of innocent animals and the environment.

You'd think that animal testing would be a thing of the past in socially progressive 2015; but sadly, this is not the case. We still need to read the labels, investigate companies, and look for the cruelty-free sign on labels.

Thankfully, a lot of this work has already been done for us by Sunny Subramian, who publishes her findings at the Vegan Beauty Review.

Sunny took a moment to tell us how she got interested in vegan beauty and how it differs from cruelty-free testing, as well as discuss some of her favorite vegan products and beauty tips.

What was the inspiration behind Vegan Beauty Blog? When did you begin? What inspired you to start the blog initially?

I created Vegan Beauty Review in 2007 when I noticed that there weren't vegan beauty blogs on the Internet at the time (crazy, right?). I was just looking to fill a void and provide insightful beauty reviews, tutorials, and lifestyle pieces - all while having fun in the process.

For those that don't know, could you explain the difference between vegan beauty and cruelty-free products, or is there a difference?

The terms "vegan" and "cruelty-free" can definitely overlap, but they are not mutually exclusive. In the beauty industry, cruelty-free refers to products that haven't been tested on animals while vegan refers to products that don't contain any animal ingredients (ex. beeswax, honey, carmine, lanolin, etc.).

Is Vegan Beauty Blog geared more towards individuals or salons - or a little bit of both? Have you noticed salons adopting cruelty-free products?

Vegan Beauty Review is geared toward anyone who wants to delve into the world of vegan and cruelty-free beauty products. Whether you're a longtime vegan or just vegan-curious, you'll find lots of fun stuff on my website including product reviews, DIY beauty recipes, food recipes, makeup tutorials, and comprehensive lists of cruelty-free and vegan beauty brands.

How much have you watched the vegan beauty scene change and grow for as long as you've been interested in it? What have some of those changes been?

The vegan beauty scene has pretty much exploded since I started Vegan Beauty Review. I used to be familiar with every single beauty brand back in 2007 (when I started blogging), but now it's almost challenging to keep up because there are new animal-friendly beauty lines popping up every single day.

As far as vegan makeup goes, I'm pretty crazy about Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. There are so many pretty colors and shades, and everything is highly-pigmented and fun to play around with. I also really like Pacifica makeup. Their ingredients are on the purer side, and you can easily find their products at Target.

Do you have any advice for people who want to use vegan products but are on a budget? Are there any notable brands that are particularly cost-effective?

There are also lots of vegan-friendly beauty brands available at places like drugstores; I have a few posts dedicated to this on my website. Also, Target now carries cruelty-free and vegan-friendly brands like Acure, Pacifica, Giovanni, SheaMoisture, Weleda, güd, JASON, Dr. Bronner's, Yes to Carrots, e.l.f. Cosmetics, and more!

What are some reasons, apart from the obvious cruelty towards animals, that people might want to use vegan cosmetics? Are you aware of any environmental or health factors that can come from irresponsible corporations?

Vegan beauty brands do tend to be more environmentally and socially conscious. I often find myself leaning toward products that incorporate organic and all-natural ingredients, too - they're also much better for you skin!

What have been some of the most satisfying moments of writing Vegan Beauty Blog, and what have made them so exceptional?

My favorite part of running Vegan Beauty Review is interacting with my readers. I love it when they ask me questions or reach out looking for help transitioning to a vegan-friendly lifestyle.

Do you have any predictions for the future of vegan cosmetics? Any particular trends you're optimistic about?

I predict that vegan cosmetics are going to become even more mainstream as the masses continue to learn about cruelty-free alternatives and realize how easy they are to access.